Original "Hotel Lobby" Performance: Music Video vs COLORS Take

Two different recordings sit behind the name "Hotel Lobby," and the 2026 AI trend copies only one of them. Knowing which is which also clears up a common mix-up: the song is credited to Unc & Phew, the duo of Quavo and Takeoff, not to Migos as a full group.

The single

"Hotel Lobby (Unc & Phew)" was released on May 20, 2022 as the duo's debut single and the lead single from Only Built for Infinity Links. It was produced by Murda Beatz, Keanu Beats and Fabio Aguilar, runs 2:22, and was released through Quality Control and Motown. The writing credits list Quavious Marshall (Quavo), Kirshnik Ball (Takeoff), Shane Lindstrom, Keanu Torres and Fabio Aguilar. Reporters at the time noted that Offset was absent, which fed speculation about a Migos split; the song had been teased in February 2022.

It peaked at No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 12 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, No. 55 on the Canadian Hot 100 and No. 77 on the Billboard Global 200. It is certified Platinum by the RIAA, Gold in France and Brazil, and Silver in the UK. These figures come from the song's reference page, which cites Billboard and the certifying bodies.

The official music video

The video released with the single was directed by Keemotion and Quavo. It is an homage to the 1998 film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, with Quavo as Raoul Duke and Takeoff as Dr. Gonzo. They drive through a desert, pick up hitchhikers and end up at a Las Vegas hotel. Coverage from Rolling Stone and Vibe dates from the release week. None of this is the source of the AI trend.

The A COLORS SHOW performance

The trend uses the COLORS take, recorded in 2022 with Quavo and Takeoff as Unc & Phew. COLORS is known for a plain, single-color studio backdrop, and this performance uses orange with one hanging microphone between the two rappers. There is no set, no cuts to other locations and no props, which is exactly what makes it easy for AI tools to copy. The performance is hosted on the COLORS site and its YouTube channel. This site does not embed or mirror it.

The exact 2022 release date of the COLORS performance is not given in the sources used here, so it is left out rather than guessed.

Why the performance matters in 2026

Takeoff died in November 2022. On June 25, 2023, Quavo and Offset performed "Hotel Lobby" together at the BET Awards as a tribute to him, as USA Today reported. That history is part of why some viewers find AI edits of the COLORS clip uncomfortable. XXL reported that Quavo reposted the original performance on X on September 23, 2026, the same day its report on the trend appeared. Read more about the trend in the trend explainer and about rights in the copyright and safety guide.

For a side-by-side of the two videos, see the original video explained.

Practical points

Use this topic as part of the wider Hotel Lobby AI workflow: identify the original reference, decide what changes, generate a short test, inspect faces and motion, then check consent, labeling and platform rules.

Separate the 2022 source performance from newer AI-generated clips.
Use clear reference images and consistent framing.
Inspect hands, faces, lip movement and identity drift.
Use current platform disclosure controls where applicable.
Do not use private people's images without appropriate permission.

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